SlC high school students protest tardiness policy

Contributed

SALT LAKE CITY-- A Salt Lake City high school's policy of imposing $5 fines for tardiness is drawing protests from some students.

About 100 East High students walked out of class Friday to protest the policy, which was implemented in 2010.

Demonstrators told the Deseret News (http://bit.ly/HEr3Yv ) that the policy is unfair because they don't have enough time to get from one class to another, and low-income families can't afford to pay the fine.

But East High administrators defend the policy, saying it has led to less tardiness this year. They note that over 95 percent of 2,000 East High students make it to class on time.

Under the policy, the $5 fine will be waived if tardy students attend a 30-minute, after-school detention session.